Management

  • International media have reported that Yemeni forces surrounded between 25 and 60 al Qaida fighters in a rural village. The surrounded militants rejected mediation efforts by local officials, setting conditions for security forces to besiege the militants in their hiding places. Later reporting indicated Yemeni forces attacked five houses in the village but found them empty. Up to 15,000 civilians have fled the fighting. The US is reported to be providing intelligence and advisory support because the US is determined to prevent al Qaida from exporting more terrorists from Yemen and from developing a base there. The impoverished Yemeni government welcomes the US aid.

    September 27, 2010
  • House Democrats went over the heads of Homeland Security Department officials and appealed to the White House to cancel a $1 billion financial management project, NextGov reports.

    September 27, 2010
  • Two recent developments exemplify China\'s expanding use of military forces in support of diplomacy and to maintain stability along borders. First, six Chinese aircraft launched long-range sudden attacks in Kazakhstan as part of ongoing simulated anti-terror exercises. On September 21st, it was reported that China approved the deployment of four military helicopters to Pakistan to assist in flood relief. The press reports are part of the public information program to test international reaction to China\'s having crossed another threshold as a responsible great power. The two developments spotlight China\'s near term strategic objective, which is dominance in Asia.

    September 27, 2010
  • In races in both the House and Senate, Democratic incumbents have found loyal supporters -- and big donors -- in defense contractors, Politico reports.

    September 27, 2010
  • The FAR Council issues a proposed rule to require agencies to justify the use of time-and-materials and labor hours contracts for commercial services. GAO found that agencies didn\'t understand the rules for buying certain types of services.

    September 27, 2010
  • Host Mark Amtower discusses the SmartPay program with David Shea, Director of the Office of Charge Card Management, Federal Acquisition Service, General Services Administration. September 27, 2010

    September 27, 2010
  • A new report concludes collaborative voluntary partnerships should be viewed as a complement to agency regulatory activities rather than as a replacement for the traditional command-and-control approach to regulation. Author Russell Mills explains.

    September 27, 2010
  • The Coast Guard issued guidance July 16, 2010 to its personnel prohibiting the use of these devices by operators of Coast Guard boats and also restricted their use by other crewmembers. We get an update from Rear Adm. Brian Salerno

    September 27, 2010
  • The Army has been steadily increasing the amount of education and training it delivers online. Details from the Army\'s Phyllis Bailey

    September 27, 2010
  • GAO has found inconsistent compliance with the three VA purchasing and tracking requirements, creating potential risks to veterans\' safety. Details from GAO\'s Dr. Debra Draper.

    September 27, 2010
  • As people live longer, healthier lives, agencies are facing a growing number of older workers. This is presenting a big problem for younger supervisors. Peter Cappelli, a professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and author of the book \"Managing the Older Worker,\" explains how younger supervisors can effectively manage.

    September 24, 2010
  • Administration\'s working group also is looking at policies and regulations that need to be updated. DoD calls on Congressional support when the White House submits its package of legislative changes. Meanwhile, DHS has released a draft of the National Cyber Incident Response Plan.

    September 24, 2010
  • President Obama has nominated Major General Darrell Jones to oversee manpower and personnel issues on the Air Staff.

    September 24, 2010
  • One area of defense spending that doesn\'t get a lot of attention is the hundreds of millions of dollars spent each year on tuition assistance for servicemembers. As DoD tightens its purse strings, the department wants to increase its oversight of for-profit, online college degree programs.

    September 24, 2010